MANATAKA
WARRIOR SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP
An
applicant, inductee and sponsor must be a member in good standing of
the Manataka American Indian Council (MAIC).
Membership
is by invitation only by the Warrior Society Leadership.
Membership
requires a four (4) year commitment.
Membership
is dependent on active participation.
Members swear to uphold the Manataka Oath and
Creed.
Members
take an oath to uphold the Warrior Society Codes of Conduct and Ethics.
MANATAKA
WARRIOR SOCIETY ORGANIZATION
The
MAIC Elder Council will appoint two officers of the WS.
WS
Officers are: Spirit Keeper (Chair) and Fire Keeper
(Vice-Chair)
WS
officers will nominate and members will select a Lodge Keeper
(Secretary/ Treasurer) to maintain accurate records of all WS
activities.
The WS
Spirit Keeper or another WS officer will act as liaison to the Elder
Council and attend all its meetings.
WS membership may create any positions and committees deemed
necessary, however, no position or title of Chief, Medicine
Man, Holy Man or Elder shall be created without the specific written
permission of the Elder Council.
Levels of achievement based on specific skills, knowledge and
accomplishments may be recognized and honored by the membership by
establishing specific non-discriminatory tests and standards;
thus creating a hierarchy among its members.
All fundraising activities must be
approved by the Elder Council, however, all other activities of the
WS will be the decision of its members, notwithstanding the
instructions and provisions as outline in this handbook or as may be
amended from time to time by the Elder Council.
OF THE
HEART
Native Americans have a very high code of ethics and rules of
good behavior. Our ancestors did not imprison each other or
lock up valuables and depended on one another to be honest.
All contracts and agreements were verbal promises and they depended
on one another to keep promises. They also had to count on one
another to be fair; to not take more from the earth than was needed
to survive, and to care for one another.
The
Manataka Oath, Creed and Code are the essence of the standards our
honored ancestors lived by. They are based on honesty,
integrity, helping one another in work and play, making
the best of things, being friendly and kind, respecting elders, and
taking care of Mother Earth that gives us food and shelter needed to
survive.
LOYALTY TO THE CREATOR AND MOTHER
EARTH
CREED
"As members of Manataka, we pray twice every day, perform
sacred ceremony, and honor all laws of the Creator. We love
and keep Mother Earth and all things on her. We respect and
honor our ancestors, the Elders and each other. We learn
ancient traditions and pass our wisdom to our children and
others."
LOYALTY
TO ONESELF
CODE OF
CONDUCT
"I
am one with Manataka, all Creation and the Creator. I am
learning to walk the good red road and the seven steps of our sacred
Fire Circle. As a member, I keep the creed, oath and code of
conduct of Manataka sacred and inviolate. I have strong faith
in Creator, the Great Mystery and All-Mighty God. I love and respect
all things. I am truthful, honest and fair. I am a
teacher of sacred wisdom and beauty. Material possessions are
not mine for avarice and gluttony are without honor. I
tread lightly on our Mother Earth and hold no dominion over her
plants, creatures and elements. I am a giving and caring person who
respects all races, religions and people without judgment. I
am a rainbow warrior and I come to spread our love, light, peace and
joy amongst all our relations."
LOYALTY TO THE NATION -
ORGANIZATION
MANATAKA
OATH
I
hereby swear to uphold and support the Constitution of the Manataka
American Indian Council, the Constitutions of the State of Arkansas
and the United States of America. I swear to do everything
within my individual power to promote the laws, traditions and goals
of the Manataka American Indian Council. I swear to advance
American Indian cultural, heritage and
traditions. I swear to represent this organization with
fidelity, truth, and honor.
A Manataka
member should be able to:
* Recite the Manataka Oath
and Creed.
* Explain the meaning of the Oath and
Creed.
* Explain the meaning of the Code of
Conduct.
* Be a role model for other members, peers,
and community through deeds, words,
and actions.
CODE OF
ETHICS
Upon rising each morning and before retiring each night, give
thanks to the Creator for the life within you and all life.
Thank the Creator for the good things and for the opportunity to
grow a little more each day. Consider your thoughts and
actions of the past day and seek the courage and strength to be a
better person. Seek for the things that will benefit others
(everyone).
Respect:
Respect means "To feel or show honor or esteem for someone or
something; to consider the well being of, or to treat someone or
something with deference or courtesy". Showing respect is a
basic law of life.
-
Always treat
every person from the tiniest child to the oldest elder with
respect.
Give special
respect to Elders, parents, teachers, and community
leaders.
Avoid
hurting others physically, mentally and emotionally by words and
actions.
Touch
nothing that belongs to someone else without
permission.
Respect the
privacy of others.
Never
intrude on a person's quiet moment or personal space. Never
walk between or interrupt people who are talking.
Speak in a soft voice, especially when you are
in the presence of Elders, strangers or others to whom special
respect is due.
Do not speak
unless invited to do so at gatherings where Elders are present
(except to ask what is expected of you, should you be in
doubt).
Never speak
about others in a negative way, whether they are present or
not.
Gossip is a
snake in the lodge of our people - do not fall prey to
it.
Treat the earth and all her aspects as your mother.
Show respect for animals, stone people and plant world. Do not
pollute Mother Earth, rise up in wisdom and defend her.
Show deep respect for the beliefs and religion of
others.
Listen with your heart in courtesy to what
others say. Respect the wisdom of the people in council. Once
you give an idea in council, it no longer belongs to you. It
belongs to the people. Listen intently to the ideas
of others in council and that you do not insist that your idea
prevail. Indeed, freely support the ideas of others if they are true
and good, even if they are quite different from yours. The clash of
ideas brings forth the spark of truth.
Once a
council has decided an issue in unity, do not speak secretly against
what has been decided. If the council has erred, the error will be
apparent to everyone in its own time.
Be truthful at all times, under all conditions.
Bring problems with others to the Elder Council. Do not
circulate these problems among the membership. Harsh words against
others only serve to inflame a problem.
Always treat
your guests with honor and consideration. Give of your best food,
best blankets, best part of your house, and the best service to your
guests.
The hurt of
one is the hurt of all, the honor of one is the honor of all.
Receive strangers and outsiders with a loving
heart and as members of the human family. All the races and tribes
are different colored flowers of one meadow. All are
beautiful. Respect all of the Creator's
children.
The hurt of
one is the hurt of all, the honor of one is the honor of all.
Always treat
your guests with honor and consideration. Give of your best food,
best blankets, best part of your house, and the best service to your
guests.
Receive
strangers and outsiders with a loving heart and as members of the
human family. All the races and tribes in the world are like the
different colored flowers of one meadow. All are beautiful.
Respect all of the Creator's children.
Humans are created to serve others, to their family,
community, nation and the world. Do not fill yourself with your own
affairs and forget your most important talks. True happiness comes
only to those who dedicate their lives to the service of others.
Know those things good for your
well-being and those things that lead to your destruction. Listen to
and follow the guidance given to your heart.
Expect Guidance to come in many forms; in
prayer, in dreams, in times of quiet solitude, and in the words and
deeds of wise Elders and friends.
Observe moderation and balance in all things.
Eat well but not excessively. Eat
'natural' foods given by Mother Earth - for it is what you are made
from. Do not eat what man manufactures for it is full of
poison chemicals and unnatural elements.
Respect all life - especially the animal
kingdom. The Creator did not give humans dominion over
animals, but rather the animals teach and guide humans.
-
Learning Survival -
the Manataka Way
The first purpose of this section is to teach ways you how
to survive in the wilderness. The second purpose
is to teach you respect for Mother Earth, Indian traditions and your
community.
Requirements
Food: You must
research:
-
The types of animals and fish used and not used as
food.
Animal tracking and identification.
Animal habits and territories.
Tools/weapons used for hunting and trapping.
Preparation of game (skinning/gutting, scaling,
etc.)
You are
expected to:
Identify animals tracks and to actually track an animal in
the wild.
Hunt,
trap, or fish the appropriate animal food stock - In compliance
with all local, state and federal laws. Any violation will
result in immediate expulsion.
Prepare the animal for the women to further process and
cook. (You are expected to gut/skin, scale, or otherwise prepare
the body of the animal.)
Make tools
needed to hunt, trap, and prepare the food.
At some
point in time in the program the spoils of the hunt will be
combined with the crops the women raise and a dinner will be given
for family and friends.
Shelter: You must research:
The types of shelters) used by the tribe you are
learning.
The materials and construction methods used.
How the shelters were constructed and
furnished.
You are
expected to:
Create full size tools needed for construction of the
shelter and furnishings.
Create a furnished scale model of a shelters. Scale:
minimum of 2" equals 1 foot.
Construct a full size shelter.
Clothing: You must research:
The
types/style of clothing relevant to the men of the tribe you are
learning.
The materials needed for the clothing.
How the materials were gathered/produced.
How clothing was made and
decorated.
You are
expected to:
Create a full-size wearable clothing for yourself
including, breechcloth, leggings, moccasins, shirt, pants,
medicine bag, and any other item of
dress.
Stories and Games: You must research:
The stories and games of the tribe you are
learning.
The history and purpose of the stories and
games.
The manner the stories and games
used.
You
are expected to:
Learn at least one game and one story of the tribe you
are learning.
Accurately retell the story with out the aid of a
written manuscript or notes.
Make any storytelling props needed in telling the
story.
Make the playing pieces of the game you
choose.
Demonstrate the game you choose.
Explain the history and purpose of the game and story
when asked.
Music
and Dance: You must research:
The music and dances of the tribe you are
learning.
The history and purpose of the music and
dances.
Any special regalia, instruments, or props required for
performing the music or dances.
You are expected to:
Learn at least two dances and songs performed by tribe
you are learning. (War dance may used to fulfill this
requirement)
Produce regalia, instruments or props used to perform
songs and dances.
Perform the songs and dances you choose.
Explain the history and purpose of the songs and
dances.
Warfare: You must research:
The weapons of war used by the tribe you are learning.
Most weapons were universal to all tribes, but each tribe had its
own style of manufacture and decoration.
The style (strategies and tactics) of warfare practiced
by the tribe.
The war dance used by the tribe.
The style of war paint and other rituals/preparations
for war.
You are expected to:
Make
one weapon of war appropriate to the tribe you are learning
about including a bow and arrow, tomahawk, war club, knife,
blow gun, etc.
Explain the war strategies/tactics used by the
tribe.
Perform the war dance of the tribe and prepare yourself
for a war party.
Start a war with some country…. (just
kidding).
Government: You must research:
How the government of the tribe you are learning was
structured and functioned.
The man and woman's role in the government.
You are
expected to:
Explain the role of men and women in tribal government.
Survival: You must research:
-
The types of food sources and shelters used while on
the hunt or warpath.
Basic first aid techniques
Finding your way through the woods or other topography
indigenous to the homeland and/or current location of the
tribe you are learning.
You are expected to:
Gather a selection of wild foods appropriate for the
area/tribe.
Build a temporary shelter of the appropriate
type.
Demonstrate basic first aid skills.
Hike through the indigenous terrain using traditional
methods to insure your location, direction and your way to
the base camp.
Skills
learned will be demonstrated on a camping trip and/or hiking trips
in appropriate terrain.
The Medicine Way
'The Medicine Way' can be defined as the
practice of using the gifts provided by the sacred Mother Earth for
healing and ceremonies. In history, not all who practiced
the medicine way were spiritual leaders or holy men, even though
they may have possessed great spiritual
qualities. Not all spiritual leaders or holy men/women
practiced the sacred earth medicine way. In fact, they were not
always men. Often times, grandmothers had special knowledge of
plants, stones and the elements.
Among the
first nations, those who practiced the medicine way were held in
high esteem and honored by all. Often, societies within
the clan, tribe or nation were formed to teach and supervise the
practice of sacred earth medicine. These societies hand-picked their
own students, developed standards of practice, held special private
ceremonies, cultivated land, and treated injuries and sickness with
great skill and success.
Medicine Way: You must research:
The healing plants, minerals, elements, tools used a
tribe.
Methods used in gathering, preparing and storing
medicines.
Modern medicines derived from traditional
plants/minerals.
Modern medical practices derived from traditional
methods.
You are
expected to:
Identify in their natural environment ten (10) plants
and other medicines.
Make a tool used in medical treatment.
Prepare at least five (5) medicinal plants/minerals for
use.
Develop and maintain a written collection of
remedies.
